CENTRE WELLINGTON – An integrity commissioner’s report said Centre Wellington’s mayor did not contravene the township’s code of conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act when it came to the township hosting a volunteer recruitment event and upgrades to electrical infrastructure for Riverfest Elora.
The Centre Wellington council agenda for its meeting on Monday includes a 10-page integrity commissioner’s report outlining a complaint against mayor Shawn Watters and the investigation clearing him.
It said a complaint was filed on Oct. 1, 2024, alleging Watters contravened the code of conduct due to a June open house volunteer recruitment event which showed opportunities for volunteering with Riverfest, a music festival held yearly at Bissell Park.
Watters is a director and part owner of the company running Riverfest Elora and has been involved with it for the past 14 years.
The report said the open house was organized by the township’s community services department as part of its community connect initiative.
Each month a different organization would be highlighted in an open house for people to learn about it and how to volunteer with it. The report said Riverfest Elora was the first open house in the program as a proof-of-concept given its proven ability to attract volunteers.
Promotional materials developed for the open house were developed as part of a resource kit by township staff, the report said, and intended to be used by any volunteer organization hosting an open house.
The complaint alleged the Riverfest Elora company had financial gain due to the open house using township “supplies, services, staff, official marks” to recruit volunteers for a for-profit organization.
The open house was not held on township property.
“We were advised that township staff did not have any contact whatsoever with the member (Watters) in the planning and execution of the open house,” the report said. “A Riverfest employee (the creative director) was the township’s contact for the open house.”
Watters’ submission to the integrity commissioner said he has not benefitted financially from Riverfest, the company pays fair market value for Bissell Park, always declares a conflict of interest when Riverfest is brought up in council or board meetings and does not engage with township staff in any conversations involving Riverfest.
The complaint also alleged Watters influenced the decision to upgrade electrical meters and panels at Bissell Park which would benefit the Riverfest Elora company due to “offsetting the costs of generator power.”
The report said requests for upgrades would have been initiated through discussions with Riverfest Elora partners or volunteers and the township’s parks and recreation department with CW Hydro being involved to coordinate installation. CW Hydro’s board was not involved, the report said, and Riverfest Elora paid for the upgrades.
“No person that we contacted recalled the member (Watters) being involved in any aspect of the electrical upgrade,” the report said.
Overall, the report said it found no evidence Watters used township staff or resources for his own benefit in regards to the open house event.
It also stated while Watters had an indirect pecuniary interest in the electrical upgrades, there was no evidence to show he used his office to influence the upgrades.
The full report can be read here.